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A night-time photograph of a ritual initiation. On the right, a man with long swept-back hair, a beard, a red-brown saffron shawl, a long multi-strand gold necklace, a gold pendant and rudraksha-style beaded bracelets raises his right hand to touch the forehead of a bare-chested devotee on the left, who bows forward. The devotee wears a white cloth with a thin white sacred thread, a rudraksha mala and red-and-white wrist threads. Behind them an attendant in white clothing with a vertical sandalwood-coloured mark on his forehead watches, and a silver-trimmed ornate throne stands at the right edge beside a red pillar. The scene is a shiva deeksha initiation.

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A photograph of a ritual initiation at night. A man with long dark hair, a full beard, gold earrings and a rust-red shawl over his shoulders, wearing layered gold necklaces with a large gold pendant and rudraksha bead bracelets, places his hand on the forehead of a bare-chested devotee in a white dhoti and white shawl who bows forward with hands joined. Another devotee in white stands behind, and a man at left wears rudraksha malas and has white sacred ash marks. The seated man sits on an ornate silver-and-red throne-like chair in front of a stone pillar and red wall.2017-10-05October 05 20172017-10-05A photograph of a seated man on an ornate silver throne with a red cushion, wearing a rust-red shawl over the body, a gold multi-strand necklace with a large gold pendant, a rudraksha bracelet and armband, and a vertical tilak on the forehead. He is touching the forehead of a standing devotee wearing a white dhoti with gold border and bare upper body, who is bending forward. Another person in white clothing is partly visible at left, and a silver lion-shaped armrest sits at lower left. Appearance-based probable Swamiji cues: long swept-back hair, ornate gold necklaces and rudraksha adornments, seated on a throne with a ceremonial role. The setting is an outdoor ceremonial area with stone pillars and railings, consistent with a blessing or deeksha moment.2017-10-05A seated man in an rust-orange draped robe and multiple strands of rudraksha and gold-tone beads sits on a red cushioned throne with silver lion-shaped armrests, one hand resting on the head of a shirtless devotee kneeling before him with palms pressed together. Behind, a bare-chested attendant in white dhoti with gold border and rudraksha malas holds a cloth or book near the kneeling devotee's head, while an orange-clad person stands at the left edge. The seated figure has long swept-back hair, a crown-like ornament, and hoop earrings.2017-10-15October 15 20172017-10-15A night-time blessing scene on a raised platform. A man in a red-brown dhoti with a long beaded mala and gold ornaments stands with his palm on the head of a bare-chested devotee bowing forward, whose white sacred ash shows on his forehead. A silver-ornate chair with red cushion sits behind them. A figure in white with rudraksha beads and an orange-clad attendant stand at the left edge. Gesture is a touch of blessing, a darshan moment. a person candidate has long swept-back hair, beaded malas and gold ornaments, but appearance is not distinctive enough to confirm identity, so role is given as blessing giver.2017-10-15October 15 20172017-10-15A photograph of an outdoor ritual initiation at night. A seated man in a rust-red robe with a leopard-print headband, long dreadlocked hair, a red tilak, layered gold-bead and white-flower garlands and gold armlets sits on a gold-and-red throne and smiles with eyes closed while another man presses his hand to the head of a bare-chested, bearded devotee in a white dhoti with purple flowers and a red-and-white thread. Behind them, saffron-robed attendants with white body markings and rudraksha malas stand near a bright light. A gold peetha backdrop frames the scene. a person is the seated figure in the red robe and gold garlands, shown in a ceremonial seat.2017-08-22A photograph of a ceremony on a stage. A bearded man with long hair, wearing an orange-brown saffron-toned robe, multiple strands of rudraksha malas, a gold necklace and gold earrings, sits on a red-cushioned silver throne and rests one hand on the head of a shirtless man kneeling before him with palms joined. Beside the throne is a silver statue of a cow. A second man in white dhoti with gold borders and rudraksha malas stands behind, holding a comb near the kneeling devotee's head. A figure in orange robes stands at the left edge. The seated man appears to be a person with distinctive saffron robes, long hair, rudraksha malas and gold ornaments, and the kneeling man is a devotee receiving blessing.2017-10-15October 05 20172017-10-05October 05 20172017-10-05A photo of a Shiva Deeksha ritual. A bare-chested devotee in white dhoti with a white sacred thread bows his head forward while a robed figure in a saffron-orange shawl and a heavy gold necklace with a large pendant places a hand on his head. The seated figure wears long swept-back hair, a beard, gold earrings and a rudraksha-style beaded bracelet, marking a probable Swamiji (probable) officiating role. Behind them, a standing priest with a white-marked forehead, beaded necklaces and a white cloth holds a flower and lamp-like offering. A red pillar and carved stone wall form the temple background, with a brass lamp at the upper right.2017-10-05